Textile article having electrically conductive portions and method for producing the same

ABSTRACT

A textile garment in the form of a bra or ladies top is produced from a knitted component ( 11 ) formed using a circular knitting technique, with the component ( 11 ) formed as one piece comprising a first part ( 11   a ) and a second part ( 11   b ), the shape of the second part ( 11   b ) being generally a mirror image of the shape of first part ( 11   a ) when viewed with respect to a dividing line ( 12 ) disposed half way along the tubular construction. The knitted construction is produced from yarns which are electrically insulative. However, two regions of the knitted construction ( 11 ) include electrically conductive yarns to form electrodes ( 15 ). Conductive yarn is also used to produce conductive tracking ( 16 ) leading from each electrode ( 15 ). The second part ( 11   b ) is lifted up to fold the knitted construction at dividing line ( 12 ) such that the second part ( 11   b ) forms an outer layer while the first part ( 11   a ) forms an inner layer. Thus the conductive electrode forming regions ( 15 ) become part of the inner layer, where they are electrically insulated by the outer layer.

The present invention relates to textile articles, in particular totextile articles having electrically conductive portions, and methodsfor providing such textile articles.

The integration into garments or the like of electrical or electroniccomponents is of interest to the so called “wearable electronics”community and for health monitoring and treatment applications.Providing wiring in a garment is not necessarily the most elegantsolution since the provision of such wiring can detract from the look orhang of a garment. Furthermore, providing wiring and associatedconnectors in garments or the like usually involves techniques which arenot common place in the garment instruction industry.

One approach to address some of the above concerns is to includeconductive yarns in the textiles of a garment itself to provideconductive tracking and the like. Such tracking usually needs to beinsulated or hidden in particular regions and this may be done byproviding further layers of textile in a traditional “cut and sew”approach. Such an approach can modify the look or hang of the garment inan undesirable way and leads to further labour and cost duringproduction.

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially addressthe above mentioned problems.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a textile article comprising two or more at least partiallyoverlapping layers, a first one of the layers having a portion whichincludes electrically conductive material and a second one of the layershaving a portion which includes electrically insulative material,wherein the portion including electrically insulative material isdisposed adjacent the portion including the electrically conductivematerial to at least partially cover and thus serve to electricallyinsulate the portion including electrically conductive material. Thefirst one and second one of the layers may be formed of a commonintegral component folded to provide an overlapping region.

The first and second one of the layers may be of knitted construction.In this case, the layers may be the product of a circular knittingtechnique. Where a circular knitting technique is employed, the firstone and the second one of the layers may be formed from a componentwhich is of generally tubular shape, the component being subsequentlyfolded to tuck one portion of the component within another portion ofthe component to provide, respectively, an inner tubular section formingthe first one layer and an outer tubular section forming the second onelayer.

Thus it is possible to provide an article having conductive tracking orelectrodes included in a one knitted layer to be insulated by anotheradjacent layer merely by knitting a component to the required patternand performing minimal post knitting work. Such textile articles canpotentially be produced with a lower manufacturing cost than would bethe case for articles produced without the benefit of the presentinvention. Such textile articles can also benefit in terms of look andhang because there is a reduced need to sew together multiple componentsand therefore allows a simple, comfortable garment with no or few seamsto be produced.

These and other aspects of the present invention appear in the appendedclaims which are incorporated herein by reference and to which thereader is now referred.

The present invention will now be described with reference to thefigures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a textile construction for forming afirst embodiment of a textile article of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a textile articleof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of textile material;

FIG. 4 is the material of FIG. 3 folded once;

FIG. 5 is the material of FIG. 3 folded twice.

It should be noted that the drawings are diagrammatic and not drawn toscale. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts of the figures havebeen shown exaggerated or reduced in size for the sake of clarity andconvenience in the drawings. The same reference signs are generally usedto refer to corresponding or similar features in a different embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a textile article 10 is provided by using acircular knitting process (often referred to as a seamless knit) to forma construction 11 that is of generally tubular or cylindrical shape inthe direction denoted T. The construction 11 is formed as one piece andcomprises a first part 11 a and a second part 11 b, the shape of thesecond part 11 b being generally a mirror image of the shape of thefirst part 11 a when viewed with respect to a dividing line 12 disposedgenerally half way along the tubular construction. The textile article10 of this example is a bra or ladies top, and although the constructionis described as being generally tubular, the diameter of theconstruction can be varied as required at different areas by selectivelyusing different stitch construction and/or by introducing resilientlyextendible yarns (such as elastaine). The knit pattern may be controlledto produce openings such as 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, 14 b as will beappreciated by the person skilled in the art. The knitted construction11 is produced from one or more yarns which are generally electricallyinsulative. However, two regions 15 of the knitted construction 11include electrically conductive yarn to render these regionselectrically conductive. These regions serve as electrodes for detectingelectrical signals of a wearer associated with their pulse. The regions15 are provided in a part of the knitted construction such that when thegarment 10 is worn the electrically conductive regions each contact thewearers skin at a location below each bust towards the lower part of therib cage. In practice, the electrodes may contact the wearer's skin at aother locations, providing appropriate electrical signals may still bedetected, as will be known to the person skilled in the art.

The electrically conductive regions are an integral part of the knittedconstruction 11 and are defined by splicing in conductive yarn asrequired. Splicing refers to the selective introduction of yarns in aregion of the knit. Each conductive electrode forming region 15 isprovided with electrically connected knitted conductive tracking 16leading therefrom allowing signals detected by electrode forming regions15 to be communicated to means for further processing of the signal,such as amplification and transmission, as the case may be. Conductivetracking 16 may be provided in the same or similar manner as thatemployed for producing the conductive electrode forming regions 15.

Once the knitted construction stage 11 has been completed, the secondpart 11 b is lifted up to fold the knitted construction at dividing line12, such that the second part 11 b forms an outer layer of article 10while the first part 11 a forms an inner layer of article 10. Opening 13a is aligned with opening 13 b to form a first armhole and opening 14 ais aligned with opening 14 b to form a second armhole. The inner andouter layer formed by first part 11 a and second part 1 b may be held inposition with respect to each other by stitching, shown in FIG. 2 asbroken lines denoted 17. However, this adjoining is not mandatory andother techniques for holding the inner and outer layers in the requiredrelationship with respect to each other are possible.

Silicon may be arranged around the periphery of the regions 15 ofelectrically conductive yarn to provide additional grip between thegarment in this region and a wearer's skin. Such additional grip reducesmovement of the sensing electrodes in the electrode forming regions 15and the skin, with a reduction in movement resulting in a reduction ofmovement induced electrical noise appearing in signals provided byelectrodes. It has been observed that an amount of electricallyconductive moisture present in the vicinity of the centre of electrodes,in this case in the form of the knitted regions 15, improves the sensingof electrical signals associated with user pulse. Therefore silicon maybe provided so as to encourage perspiration in the vicinity of thesensing electrodes, or retain moisture in those electrode regions. Inone arrangement, silicon is deposited on the inner layer of the bra toform channels, such that during use perspiration of a user is guided bythe channels into the vicinity of the electrodes. Silicon may bedeposited on the inner layer of the bra to form channels, such thatduring use perspiration of a user is guided by the channels away fromthe vicinity of the tracking. In one specific arrangement, during use,perspiration produced in the area under the bust is guided by pluralityof channels under the influence of gravity towards the electrodes. Thechannels are formed by a plurality of silicon ribs positioned on theinner surface of inner layer 11 a, pressing against a users skin.

The garment may be given further shape inducing treatment throughapplication of so called “boarding” or “shaping” where the garment isheld in the shape required while heat is applied; the heat causes thegarment to retain the shape. Other garment construction techniques mayalso be applied as will be apparent to the persons skilled in the art.

The formation of inner and outer layers by first part 11 a and secondpart 11 b, respectively results in the conductive electrode formingregions 15 becoming part of the inner layer, but shielded from externalview and contact by the outer layer. This is indicated in FIG. 2 byshowing the conductive electrode forming regions 15 with broken lines.

It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art the practice ofproducing an item by forming a textile construction with selectiveconductive and insulative regions and then folding that constructionaccordingly to allow the conductive regions to be selectively exposed orshielded allows a large number of arrangements to be produced. Forexample, a layer containing electrically conductive tracking can beinsulated from a person's skin by providing an insulating layer disposedto hold a conductive tracking away from the skin. This insulating layermay be provided in a printing stage which deposits electricallyinsulating material. Furthermore, electrically conductive regions may beprovided in a printing stage, which deposits electrically conductivematerial.

The above example describes a textile item produced by folding aconstruction once to produce inner and outer layers. This is illustratedschematically with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. A portion of textilematerial 30 is produced with an electrically conductive region 32surrounded by electrically insulating regions 31 a, 31 b. This may befolded to a folded state as shown in FIG. 4 such that portion 31 ashields electrically conducted portion 32 on one side. However, thepresent invention is not limited to folding the textile constructiononly once; one or more folds may be formed. This is illustrated withreference to FIG. 5 where the portion of textile material 30 is foldedtwice in serpentine fashion such that first insulating portion 31 ashields a one side of electrically conducted portion 32 and secondinsulating portion 31 b shields the other side of electricallyconductive portion 32. Hence electrically conductive portion 32 iscompletely shielded by electrically insulative portions 31.

Yarns may be monofiliment of multifilament. Insulating regions maycomprise a one or more type of yarn. Conductive regions may comprise ofone or more type of yarn. Conductive regions may include electricallyconductive and electrically insulative yarns. Suitable conductive yarnmaterials include carbon fibre conductive polymers, or polymersotherwise having a conductive property due to their composition. Othersuitable conducting materials include insulators such as polyamidecoated with conductors, for example coatings of copper, aluminium, goldand silver. Plating techniques include electroless plating. Yarns may beof metal. Suitable insulating materials include nylon, polyamide,acetate, cotton and wool. In fact any suitable textile materials may beused irrespective of whether they are natural or man made providing theycan be processed to form an article of the present invention.

The present invention has been described with specific reference to anembodiment in the form of a bra or ladies top. However, this is byexample and in fact the textile article may adopt other forms, includinga gents top; some other garment, clothing accessory, health monitoringdevice, health care treatment device, sports training product, wearablecomputing arrangement or component for use in one or more of thoseproducts without departing from the scope of the present invention.

From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will beapparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involveother features which are already known in the design manufacture and useof textile articles such as garments, clothing accessories, healthmonitoring or treatment devices, sports training products, wearablecomputer arrangements and applications thereof, and which may be usedinstead of or in addition to features already described herein.

1. A textile article (10) comprising two or more at least partiallyoverlapping layers, a first one of the layers (11 a) having a portion(15, 32) which includes electrically conductive material and a secondone of the layers (11 b) having a portion (11 b, 31) which includeselectrically insulative material, wherein the portion (31) includingelectrically insulative material is disposed adjacent the portion (32)including the electrically conductive material to at least partiallycover and thus serve to electrically insulate the portion includingelectrically conductive material.
 2. A textile article (10) according toclaim 1 wherein the first one and the second one the layers are formedof a common integral component (11) folded to provide an overlappingregion.
 3. A textile article (10) in accordance with claim 1 or 2wherein the first one and the second one of the layers are of knittedconstruction.
 4. A textile article (10) in accordance with claim 3wherein the layers are the product of a circular knitting technique. 5.A textile article in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first one andthe second one of the layers are formed from a component (11) which isof generally tubular shape, the component being subsequently folded totuck one portion (11 a) of the component within another portion (11 b)of the component to provide, respectively, an inner tubular sectionforming the first one layer and an outer tubular section forming thesecond one layer.
 6. A textile article in accordance with claim 5,wherein the portion (32) which includes electrically conductive materialforms an electrode (15).
 7. A textile article in accordance with any oneor more of claims 1 to 6 wherein the portion (32) which includeselectrically conductive material forms conductive tracking (16).
 8. Atextile article in accordance with any one or more of claims 1 to 7wherein a textile article (10) is one of a garment, clothing accessory,health monitoring device, health care treatment device, sports trainingproduct, wearable computing arrangement, or a component for use in oneor more of those products.
 9. A method of making a textile articlehaving the technical features of any one or more of claims 1 to
 8. 10. Amethod of providing a textile article (10) comprising two or more atleast partially overlapping layers, said method comprising the steps of:providing a first layer (11 a) having a portion (15, 32) which includeselectrically conductive material; providing a second layer (11 b) havinga portion which includes electrically insulative material; arrangingsaid layers such that the portion including the electrically insulativematerial is disposed adjacent to the portion (32) including theelectrically conductive material to at least partially cover and thusserve to electrically insulate the portion including electricallyconductive material.
 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein thefirst one and the second one of the layers are formed by folding acommon integral component (11) to provide an overlapping region.
 12. Amethod according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the first one and the secondone of the layers are provided as a knitted construction.
 13. A methodaccording to claim 12 wherein the first one and the second one of thelayers are provided by performing a circular knitting technique.
 14. Amethod according to claim 12 or 13 and further comprising the steps offorming the first one and the second one of the layers from a component(11) which is of generally tubular shape; and folding the components totuck one portion (11 a) of the component within another portion (11 b)of the component to provide, respectively, an inner tubular sectionforming the first one layer and an outer tubular section forming thesecond one layer.